The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-01-17
T H +
GREAT IRRIGATION AND COLONIZING
SCHEME.

Messrs. Chaffee Brothers, founders OF
the Ontario colony, San Bernardino
county, California, are now in Australia,
and are likely to carry out great colon
izing scheme, combined with irrigation
Arrangements TO that end had been con-
cluded with the Victorian Government,
subject to ratification by Parliament, but
the Opposition ''stonewalled'' it for
twenty-five hours consecutively, until
the Administration consented to leave
the project open for sixty days to COM
petitive bids. Considering that Messrs.
Chaffee's plans had been disclosed this
was hardly fair treatment, and they con-
sequently notified the withdrawal of
their offer. But overtures are being
made to them from New South Wales
and other colonies, and as they intimate
hat they will make Australia their fu-
gure home, it is probable that they will
locate themselves upon some other suit
able spot, if indeed they do not again re-
sumo negotiations with the Victorian
Government and carry out the original
design.
The project, as disclosed, deserves
special mention in this Kingdom where
irrigation has accomplished so much,
but where the possibilities of scientific
and comprehensive system of storage and
distribution of the available water SUP
ply are practically INFESTED. The CT aG1ee
agricultural and horticultural colony was
to be located on the Murray river, seven
teen miles east of Wentworth, on the
Mildura run, leased under the Malice
Scrub Act. This is country so dry that
40 vegetation save malice scrub exists,
and it sustains no form of animal life
Upon this unprOnising Wilderness, $50
niles from a railway, Messrs. Chaffee
md their partners undertook to expend
e250,0O0 Isl ,250 ,000) in clearing, level
ng, irrigating and otherwise permanent
Y improving 80, 900 acres, at a cost of 60
$3.50 per acre. They were to establish
college for the advanced branches of ag-
riculture and horticulture, including irri-
CATION iii its entirely. They proposed to
endOw this college with 10 900 acres of
irrigated land for its permanent support, |
and to establish fruit preserving and |
canning industries In consideration of |
this expenditure of 1,250, 900, Chatfee |
Brothers were to receive the $4,000 acres |
IN question, less the college endowment |
area, and they bound themselves to re-
tain only 5000 acres of the residue in |
their own hands, selling the balance to |
bona fde settlers. These $4,000 acres I
were to be placed under the Board of |
or any other trust the Gov
eminent saw fit, to ensure that the
terms of the contract were faithfully car
ried out. Furthermore, all the machinery
TO be used in the irrigation works was to
be made in Victoria, and further sum
Of IL, 500,0O (e30O,O00) was to be ex-
pended by the contractors on this 80 900
acre block within twenty years. In con-
sideration OF these conditions the con-
tractors were to have the option of select
ing and buying at the Government price,
IS an acre, 100000 acres additional, and
on the Government terms of payment.
As the water must be raised by pump
ng from the Murray river, the difficulties
II the way are enormous. Water works
would be built on the river bank, reser-
Toirs built, and main and distribution
pipes laid. The land must be as level as
bowling green to make the water run
evenly, and every acre of the land would
ave the water put upon it. This work
lone would give employment to large
,odies of men, and make productive
asst area now almost valueless. In this
,argain the colony had nothing to lose
nd everything to gain, but an obstructive
opposition, composed of thirteen or four
cen members of the Legislature, jeapord-
led the whole scheme. AS already
lated, however, the work is only de-
lyed for the present, and this obstruc-
We policy may in the end stimulate
irther efforts to widen the irrigation ]
rea. ]
Mr.. w. B. Chaffee speaks of the agri- q
lltural capabilities OF the malice scrub {
nd be had seen as equal to the dry I
nds of Southern California, where irri-
atom has transformed veritable will
srness into desert. He speaks hope !
lily of developing the fruit industry in y
e arid regions Of interior Australia. is
We shall have Vineyatd5 Tor wine, n